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Dawn Service: CNL Brass supported Pelican Flat RSL Sub Branch by providing the music for the Dawn Service. The bugle calls were played by Joanne McDougall, our soprano cornet player, on a “vintage” bugle. Three Hymns were included in the Service, namely, The Recessional, Lead Kindly Light and Abide With Me, together with the Anthems of both Australia and New Zealand.

CNL Brass has been supporting this Dawn Service since 1974.

Morning Service:

CNL Brass playing at the Stockton RSL Sub Branch 2017 ANZAC Day Morning Service

CNL Brass supported Stockton RSL Sub Branch. This involved a one kilometre March to the ANZAC Memorial. The March commenced at 8.30am. The Service commenced at approximately 9am, and included the Hymn Abide with Me. David Walker, principal euphonium, but also a cornet player, was the Bugler for the Last Post and Reveille. The Service also included both the Australian and New Zealand Anthems. The Sub Branch arranged for a flyover by a vintage Wirraway during the Service.

It was a delightful Christmas Musical Occasion, with a selection of mainly traditional Christmas Carols and Christmas Tunes providing the audience with the opportunity to embrace the “Christmas Spirit”. Two Special Selections were also featured, one in each half. In all, twenty-one numbers were presented.

The Concert opened with the March Born is the King, the arrangement including segments of several well-known Carols. The highlight of the first half was Concertpiece for Cornet, a composition by James Curnow, written specifically for Paul Muff junior, Principal Cornet for the Swiss A Grade Brass Band Burgermusic Luzern. Clarence Leung featured as the Soloist on cornet and gave a splendid performance, receiving sustained applause at the conclusion of the number.

Clarence Leung features on solo cornet, playing “Concertpiece forCornet”

Merry Christmas Darling was appealing and what would a Christmas Concert be without the inclusion of Rudolph, The Red NoseReindeer. The audience sang along to The First Noel and the concluding first half number Jingle Bells.

The second half opened with the traditional and rousing Hallelujah Chorus, and providedopportunities for the audience to sing along again to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night and Deck the Halls. As a special tribute to the Salvation Army, whose members provide particular support for families in need during the Festive Season, the composition by Paul Lovatt-Cooper, Fire in the Blood, was featured. Paul wrote it for the 120th Anniversary of the Salvation Army International Staff Band. The composition includes Lord You Know That We Love You, which featured Principal Cornet Bruce Fletcher and You and I Love You Lord, which featured Bruce again and Principal Euphonium David Walker. Fire in the Blood received enthusiastic applause.

David Walker features on euphonium, playing “Merry ChristmasDarling”

The John Lennon and Yoko Ono composition Happy Christmas-War is Over was a popular inclusion, as was Mary’s Boy Child.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas, the closing number, conveyed the message of goodwill to an appreciative audience.

A Carols Ensemble of nine band members provided a one hour program of Christmas Carols and Christmas Tunes at the family promotion evening at Bunnings Boolaroo on 8th December. The Ensemble greeted Santa with Jingle Bells as he arrived on a fire engine to listen to the “wish lists” of the children.

The Ensemble entertained at Wallsend Bunnings on Saturday morning 10 December and proceeded to Bunnings Belmont to continue promoting the “Christmas Spirit” in the afternoon. Bunnings Boolaroo was the venue on Saturday 17 December for a two hour performance, ensuring again that Jingle Bells greeted Santa as he arrived to distribute sweets to children and their accompanying families.